Round 1

Ladies and Gentleman! It feels GREAT to be back. The Korner is thrilled to be going into its third year. Year 1 we had an NFL record of 24-19-2 or 55.8% and Year 2 we knocked it out of the park with an NFL record of 39-19-1 or 67.2%. I envision the focus of this season to be strictly NFL. College Football to me is the greatest thing out there, but I cannot see myself being fully interested without fans. The fans, the tradition, the environment, it makes College Football for me. I am just as excited to watch NFL as I was in previous years, fans or not, but College isn’t getting me excited YET. Maybe that will change, but for right now, this is an NFL based blog. We will be suggesting three games, and probably a Daily Fantasy Lineup. These picks will be all backed by me, the Goose, but some of them might be persuaded by our Local Watering Hole. As always, credit will be given, with a little blurb on the local cappers. For those of you that are new, the family owns a local bar in town and I always sit in the same Korner. That is how Kowal’s Korner originated, right here at Butch Kowal’s Tavern. From this Korner, I can pretty much monitor all nine televisions, and I am in a great spot to chat with the locals who pop in. So buckle up, and enjoy the ride!
2018 Record 24-19-2
2019 Record 39-19-1

Vikings Packers Under 45.5 – Aaron Rodgers is one of the greats, but his coach seems to not want the ball in his hands all the time. The Packers want to keep the ball on the ground more, feeding Aaron Jones. As for the Vikings, they ran the most last season and they traded away their WR #1 in Stef Diggs! Dalvin Cook will get plenty of touches to set Cousins up for the play action. With both these teams running we expect one less possession per half then normal. We’ll need both defenses to not get tired out from the smash mouth, and keep this one a possession battle. Both these defenses were top 10 in takeaways last season so a forced fumble here or there will keep us golden. Vikings 21 Packers 20.

Seahawks -2 vs Falcons – Atlanta has their hands full for week 1. It helps that they are home but in a Covid season, I’m not sure how much that matters. The Falcons defense is rough. They were penalized most, they were top 5 in drives ending in a score, and bottom 10 in drives ending in a turnover. Their bend-don’t-break defense just isn’t sustainable against elite quarterbacks. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks should be able to figure out this defense, even if it takes a feel out half. As for the Seahawks defense, there’s no more LOB but going all in on Jamal Adams will be a huge help. Look for him to be an enforcer close to the line of scrimmage. This should be a physical defense with Adams, and linebackers Bobby Wagner / KJ Wright. Seahawks 28 Falcons 24.

Jaguars Colts Over 44.5 – As the only Jaguars fan you know, I can tell you this defense is badddddd. They did scoop up linebacker Schobert, but there really isn’t much proven talent on this team. The Jaguars also have no proven running backs. Maybe Robinson or Ozigbo emerge but they will let Minshew sling it, especially when they are down. I am not high on the Colts at all, I think Rivers is a little too much over-the-hump, but I don’t think he needs to do much this weekend. The Colts OLine is top 5 and they have a great running back tandem. If the Jags can’t stop the run, the Colts will keep scoring. Phillip Rivers also historically owns Jacksonville. He is 7-2 with the two losses coming in the Jags two playoff years, 2007 and 2017. Rivers is old and this is a new team, but the Jags normally don’t have an answer for the horizontal crosses Rivers and the Colts will throw at them. Colts 31 Jaguars 21

Daily Fantasy Lineup (DraftKings / Sunday 1pm Only)
– QB Russell Wilson $7000
– RB Dalvin Cook $7900
– RB Josh Jacobs $6800
– WR DK Metcalf $5800
– WR Curtis Samuel $4600
– WR Laviska Shenault $4400
– TE Zach Ertz $5800
– Flex Sony Michel $4600
– Defense Buffalo Bills $3700
Russell Wilson wants to “cook” this season #LetRussCook /// Dalvin Cook’s opportunity potential is too high /// Raiders travel East, should rely on run game to help quarterback /// Wilson Metcalf stack, DK has 3 inches on Atlanta corners, expecting a redzone TD /// Expecting a shootout, could see Samuel pop under Joe Brady /// Laviska projects to be the slot receiver and the wildcat running back, week 1 is a time to be creative /// Ertz should be their #1 in targets especially with Reagor out /// No Damien Harris, Michel should be goal line back /// Bills face Jets in Buffalo – should force a few turnovers

Thank you,
Goose